In Germany, the ruling coalition collapsed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the finance minister from the FDP, the liberal party. He remained with the minority government. But this is a short-term solution, as both coalition partners and the opposition focus on early elections. At a time when Europe has to prove its independence after the American elections, the chaos in Berlin is an additional blow for the continent, but also an opportunity for Poland.
On the side of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on the one hand, the representatives of the Greens and on the other, the leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Lindner – this is a scene from the times when the coalition partners were still united. Today, Lindner is no longer in the government, Scholz dismissed him as finance minister.
– I have to take this step so that it does not harm our country. We need a government that is capable of action and has the power to make the decisions necessary for our country, said the German chancellor.
Lindner's resignation practically means the collapse of the ruling coalition. The smallest element of the puzzle emerges – the FDP leaves the Social Democrats out of the SPD and the Greens.
Germany's ruling coalition has collapsed after the finance minister resigned, Reuters reported
“The chancellor gave me an ultimatum”
On Wednesday, there was a rift within the coalition at the chancellor's office in Berlin. Scholz allegedly said that Lindner is undermining the work of his government and is only guided by party egoism.
Lindner replied that he could not agree to the demands of Scholz, who wanted Germany to take out a new loan – at least 15 billion euros, mainly to cover the budget hole and a small part to help Ukraine. – The chancellor gave me an ultimatum to stop the constitutional debt brake. I could not do that because I would be breaking the oath I took when I assumed office. Therefore, at the meeting of the coalition committee, the chancellor stopped cooperation with me and the FDP, said Christian Lindner.
SEE ALSO: ministers left the government. President: the end of the coalition is not the end of the world
The entire FDR decided to leave the coalition and remove four of its ministers from the government. Olaf Schols announces that he wants to continue the implementation of the government's program in the limited coalition until Christmas and wants to hold a vote of confidence in the Bundestag in the new year. If Scholz doesn't get it, the German president will have to call new elections. – Many people are worried about the uncertain political situation in our country, in Europe and the whole world, including after the elections in the United States. Now is not the time for tactics, but common sense and responsibility. I expect everyone to behave in accordance with the scale of the problem we face, said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Scholz: We will be on Ukraine's side as long as necessary
The opposition and the FDP are trying to hold early elections
If elections were to be held today, the Christian Democratic Party from the CDU/CSU bloc would definitely win and their leader, Friedrich Merz, would become chancellor. Meanwhile, Olaf Scholz is asking Merz for support in order to keep the current government alive. However, their meeting on Thursday did not produce results.
The opposition and its former coalition partner, the FDP, are pushing for early elections, demanding a vote of confidence as soon as possible. Parliamentary elections will be held in Germany next September. The absence of a stable government in Berlin for so long could mean a greater role for Poland in the European arena, as our country takes over the presidency of the European Union on January 1.
READ ALSO: Sikorsky on the situation in Germany. He talks about the Weimar Triangle and “urgent” consultations
– Germany is a key player in the European Union. When this player is weakened, it can also affect the whole structure of the Union. Perhaps the increasing importance of Eastern European countries – says prof. Stefan Marshall, political analyst from Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf.
The political upheaval in Berlin has caused additional concerns for Kyiv. However, while the election results abroad will almost certainly mean less American support for Ukraine, mainstream parties in Germany favor continued support for the country fighting Russian aggression.
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Main photo source: Marcin Obara / PAP / EPA
